A man’s fertility case

A man’s fertility case

 

 

When it comes to fertility, Men are 50% of the equation. This however is often overlooked by mainstream medical professionals, although this is slowly starting to change.

 

I always make a point of saying to the woman sat in front of me that her partner is 50% of their fertility, and therefore they are equally important. In my experience this is a bone of contention as often the man and the woman have different ideas about the subject. Although I’m making some huge generalisations here, its what I see in clinic time and time again.

 

Women are often open to making lifestyle changes and men often don’t see the importance of them in quite the same way. The first thing to say is that the education piece in fertility cases is vital. As homeopaths we are always educating our clients so we are used to this but when you are treating a couple for fertility issues, often the man is there because the woman has persuaded/told him to be there rather than it being his own choice (not always of course but mostly). We need to be sensitive to this fact. Especially because men are more likely to see a question around their virility as a wound to their manhood and could feel very sensitive about it.

 

When I ask about the sperm test results, almost 100% of the time the answer I get back from them is, ‘oh we were told they are fine’.

 

What I have learnt from working in this field for 10 years now is that you must always question everything. Because then, when I ask to see the sperm test result figures they are almost always far from being fine. In fact, they are often terrible.

 

Now I have a pretty solid theory as to why this is. It’s because a medical doctor is thinking:

is this sperm good enough for IVF treatment, yes or no?

But what they aren’t thinking is:

‘is it good enough for natural fertility?’

 

The reason being is that with IVF treatment they can cherry pick the sperm through a procedure called ICCI. This then means that the sperm morphology for example can be as low as 2% and it not be an issue (although is certainly no guarantee for success). It is also assumed in the current medical system that sperm cannot be improved, but I have seen it improve time and time again with homeopathic treatment.

 

Just to be clear, with IVF having less than a 30% success rate on average it’s not a given that IVF will give you a baby if your sperm is poor.

 

What almost all my clients don’t realise is that having a sperm morphology of only 4% means that, of the entire batch of sperm, only 4% (which is the minimum ‘normal’ level according to the WHO) are classified as normal and so all the rest (96%) are abnormal. That means they have two tails or two heads or are malformed in some way. That’s a lot! This makes getting pregnant naturally far from easy. If you then combine this with a woman who has been diagnosed with PCOS or endometriosis or perhaps has a history of 15 years on the pill etc… It can make getting pregnant very difficult.

 

The big news is that in almost all cases it’s much easier to resolve male fertility because it is just the sperm that make up the 50% of the equation. With women’s fertility there are so many different factors that make up her 50% ie: The hormones, the blood supply to the uterus, ovulation, egg quality, the mucus, the fallopian tubes etc…I really get the impression that the medical profession really don’t see this and I feel it’s a crying shame as they are missing a trick in my opinion.

 

What’s totally brilliant about sperm is that a new batch is made every three months, so actually it’s really easy to improve the sperm. If a man takes an individualised homeopathic prescriptions, adjusts his lifestyle and improves his health over a 3 month period I categorially know that if you checked his sperm levels again at the end of the 3 months it WILL be better. I’ve seen it so many times now.

 

To put this all in context here are some statistics on sperm levels,. A widely cited study  (https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/6/646/4035689) published in 2017 by researchers from the Hebrew University and Mount Sinai’s medical school found that among nearly 43,000 men from North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia, sperm counts per milliliter of semen had declined more than 50 percent from 1973 to 2011. And not only that, “but total sperm counts were down by almost 60 percent: We are producing less semen, and that semen has fewer sperm cells in it,” wrote Daniel Noah Halpern. When Halpern asked several scientists why, they presented a united front: It was the unprecedented amount of chemicals now routinely entering the human body. “There has been a chemical revolution going on starting from the beginning of the 19th century, maybe even a bit before,” one biologist told Halpern, “and upwards and exploding after the Second World War, when hundreds of new chemicals came onto the market within a very short time frame.”

 

Recently a couple I have been treating got in contact to tell me they were pregnant. Their story is a clear example of how sperm can improve significantly. The couple were in their late 30’s when they first came to see me. They had been trying to conceive for 4 years. They’d tried 5 rounds of Clomid and 2 rounds of IVF which all had failed before coming to see me. They completed my 4 month treatment programme, then when they didn’t fall pregnant naturally they went back and did IVF again and this time it worked first time. Before starting the treatment the man got his sperm checked again and found a staggering change in his results. His sperm count went from 12 million (before my treatment) to 45 million post my treatment. Here is their story in their own words:

 

 

“We found Cassie online having endured a second failed round of IVF. As a couple we were in the ‘unexplained’ category and were feeling pretty lost. 

It was technically possible for us to conceive naturally, but my sperm wasn’t exactly super-charged (more super relaxed). 

I had tried abstaining from alcohol and making some small ad-hoc changes to my lifestyle in the past, but the tinkering around the edges didn’t really do a tremendous amount for my count, which at its highest was 20 million and averaged 12 million. 

We had a pretty honest consultation with Cassie at the outset. My outlook on lifestyle and nutrition changed overnight. I stuck to Cassie’s remedies and herbs, and on the dietary front shifted the emphasis from managing the bad, to maximising the good. In addition, I stopped using a coal tar shampoo which I’d used for years and started using a natural alternative instead. I also started to exercise a little more – I found I had far more energy and, importantly, a more positive outlook.  It all went hand-in-hand.

A couple of months following Cassie’s treatment programme we still hadn’t conceived naturally, but when we checked my sperm, the count had increased three-fold and so we felt we were in a much better place to try with IVF again.  There were marginal gains in the morphology, but the headline news was the count.  

We went back for another round of IVF in much better physical and mental condition, and were (thankfully) successful this time.” 

 

 

Here is a summary of my clients case notes:

36yr male

Trying to conceive for 4 years

5 rounds clomid 3 years ago

1 full cycle of IVF – failed

1 frozen embryo transfer – failed

Partner on contraceptive pill for 20yrs before trying to conceive.

 

Sperm:

Volume 12 million (very low)

66% motility

2% morphology (very low)

 

Other current health concerns:

Has an anal fissure that comes and goes, wiping can open it up

It gets worse if stressed, or drink coffee in the afternoon

Just notice a bit of blood, it can feel raw

Doesn’t hurt to sit or walk

Have had it as an ongoing thing

Low libido

A cutting pain in testicle from time to time (no pattern)

 

Health History

Hernia operation when a child (the stitches burst)

Had measles and chicken pox

Do get colds easily – more susceptible in the winter

Have developed heartburn as have gotten older

Broken a lot of bones over the years

Now only walking for exercise as works very long hours (40min walk to work)

5 years ago had a cyst removed from head

Have another cyst at the moment, can move it, is having it removed

At Uni left nipple swelled, quite large, doc said oestrogen related due to smoking weed

 

Family History:

Dementia

Glaucoma

DD was an alcoholic

Parents – It took them 2 years to conceive him.

 

Emotions:

‘Its been emotionally draining during the last 12 months, I don’t like seeing my wife so upset, it feels like my emotional tank is running low’

‘Stress does manifest in my stomach like a knot’

 

Digestion:

I sometimes feels like something moves in bowel, a pain, a tightness that can leave me feeling breathless. Everything tightens in my groin, it lasts a minute. Often after a big meal, a day or 2 afterwards like something is moving.

This happens about once a month, often after eating a steak

Onion gives me gas

I struggle with caffeine – it goes straight through me.

Also tea can make me bloated and gassy

I don’t like mushrooms

 

Generals:

Feel naturally thirsty, more than I did years ago.

Gets cold hands

Used to have falling dream as a kid

Not a great flyer, don’t like heights or spiders

Doesn’t sweat a lot

Loves chinese food, prefer salty to sweet

Wife describes me as the least selfish person on the planet.

 

Analysis:

My client had a lot of stress from his demanding job that involved a lot of travel and I wonder if this was really impacting his health. I feel he is also very young to have so few normal sperm at the age of 36. This made me think that there may be toxicity in his system, also the stress may well be impacting his reproductive hormones. We understand that the body prioritises managing stress hormones over all the other hormones. Reproduction is viewed by the body as the least priority of the body and so it is common that whilst the body has a low level of stress on a daily basis the reproductive hormones can go out of balance. If the testosterone is impacted that could be negatively impacting the sperm quantity and quality. His digestion seems quite compromised which may well be negatively impacting the absorbtion of nutrients from food.

 

 

My 1^st prescription:

Syphilinum 200c weekly

Calc Carb 1m weekly

Nat Mur 10 weekly

Nux Vomica 12c daily

Sepia 6c daily

Homeobotanical combination made up from Orchitis / B+L / Kidney / Emotion / Detoxa

My prescription is loosely based on the triad method although I have several support remedies alongside. The Triad method includes 3 remedies: acute, fundamental and miasmatic.

 

Justification for miasmatic layer – Syphilinum 200c

• Many broken bones in the personal medical history

• Dementia, Glaucoma and Alcoholism in the family medical history

• 98% abnormal sperm morphology – where the sperm either have 2 heads or 2 tails

 

Justification for fundamental layer – Calc Carb 1m

• Overworked and exhausted

• Catches colds easily

• Cold hands

• Many fears (flying, heights, spiders)

• Meat aggravates

• Felt like constitutional type

• Worrying about loved ones (his wife)

 

Justification for Acute layer – Nat Mur 10m

• Anal fissures with bleeding and smarting

Grief from long time on fertility journey – regular disappointment ‘Its been emotionally draining during the last 12 months, I don’t like seeing my wife so upset, it feels like my emotional tank is running low’

• Low libido

• Desire for salt and increased thirst

• Number 1 fertility remedy

 

Support remedies:

Sepia 6c daily Justification:

Cutting pains in the testicles (murphy)

Low libido

Hormone balancing

Liver support remedy

Infertility

 

Nux Vomica 12c daily justification:

The major focus of his life is on his work and achievement (morrison)

Worse caffeine

Digestive disturbances / gastrointestinal tract remedy ‘Stress does manifest in my stomach like a knot’

Detoxifying on the system helps to take pressure off and restore energy for reproductive system. History of drug use at University – smoked weed

Collapse and fatigue states from overwork (morrison)

Indigestion after business anxiety (Murphy)

Food lies like a heavy knot in the stomach (murphy)

 

Homeobotanicals

Homeobotanicals are homeopathically prepared organic herbs and can be made into a bespoke blend for the individual case.

I selected 5 HB’s: Orchitis / B+L / Kidney / Emotion / Detoxa

 

Homeobotanical Orchitis:

Homeobotanical Orchitis is primarily a tonic to support normal make sexual function. General imbalance or insufficiency of male hormones. Indicated in idiopathic male infertility.

Ingredients: Chaste Tree, Epilobium, Horsetail, Hydrangea, Nettle, Pasque Flower, Saw Palmetto, Siberian Ginseng, Tribulus.

 

Homeobotanical Blood and Lymph

Homeobotanical Blood and Lymph is ideal for gastrointestinal, hepatic and lymphatic statis. It serves as a drainage formular for the entire body. It helps with chronic systemic pain associated with faulty elimination.

Ingredients: Burdock, Cleavers, Echinacea, Figwort, New Jersey Tea, Pau d’Arco, Poke Root, Red Clover, Reishi Mushroom and Yellow dock.

 

Homeobotanical Kidney

Homeobotanical Kidney has an affinity for kidneys, bladder and the genito-urinary system. It also protects the integrity of renal and cycstic structures and simulates drainage of aqueous metabolites.

Ingredients: Bearberry, Buchu, Corn silk, Couch grass, Crataegus, Dandelion root, parsley, shepherds purse, stone root.

 

Homebotanical Emotion

Homeobotanical E is the drainage remedy for the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system . HB E is useful for all health conditions where emotional stress is a factor. Restlessness, anxiety and nervousness leading to headaches, depression and emotional exhaustion.

Ingredients: Chamomille, Gentian, Hops, Lavender, Lime Flowers, Oats, Passionflower, Rosemary, Skullcap and Valerian.

 

Homeobtoatnical Detoxa

Homeobotanical detoxa helps to address the problem of environmental toxicity underlying so much contemporary disease. HB Detoxa provides the initial drainage stumulus which combines with other appropriate therapeutic protocols in a clinical management of acute and chronic system pollution.

Ingredients:

Alfalfa, Bladderwrack, Cayenne, Celery Seed, Gotu Kola, Licorice, Mexican Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto, Siberian Ginseng.

 

 

2^nd appointment

Noticed lost weight and have more energy

Dreaming a lot more, really noticeable

Slept really well during the 1^st week

Libido has picked up

More energy in the morning

Noticed finger nails growing stronger and faster

It felt like I had better circulation around my groin it also felt like decongesting

For the first week I was passing a stool after lunch and it looked more healthy

Less gassy. I did have pain in bowel.

Less pain in the testicle.

Anal fissure, haven’t noticed it in this month and probably would by now.

2^nd prescription – repeated first prescription.

 

 

3^rd appointment

Sticking to dietary changes

Stressful time at work and its affecting my sleep waking early

Digestion good, no pains

Fissure – no flair ups, think it’s better

Noticed more energy, more alert, more positive

Libido generally better

Not as lethargic in the afternoons, getting more stuff done

Still travelling a lot for work

3^rd px same as before

 

 

4^th appointment

A lot more energy

No uncomfortable gut related pains

Working less hours at moment.

Have started a bit of working from home and travelling less

Sleeping well, doing more exercise which feels like its helping

Feeling in good shape, lots of energy

Libido is still improving

Had the lump removed from head, op went well and is healing nicely.

 

 

4^th Prescription:

I swapped Syphilinum 200c for Medorrhinum 200c weekly and swapped Homeobotanicals kidney for Homeobotanical liver and swapped Homeobotanical Detoxa for Homeobotanical Dynama to the herbal combination support remedy.

Justification for Medorrhinum 200c

• Growths / cysts in the body (he had 2 sets of cysts on his head during his life)

• Issues with the Sacral centre

• History of smoking weed (Weed is Medorrhinum’s drug of choice)

Homeobotanical Liver and Gall Tonic

Homeobotanical L supports and stimulates hepatic detoxification. Liver detoxification is fundamental to all efforts to restore health. These herbs have specific action on the liver and gallbladder.

Ingredients:

Barberry, Bupleurum, Dandelion Root, Fringe Tree, Globe Artichoke, Greater Celandine, Schisandra, St Mary’s Thistle.

Homeobotanical Dynama

Homeobotanical Dynama is designed to be the maintenance programme for all clients once their general health has been corrected. The action is one of continuous mild detoxifcation, tonic modulation of the gastrointestinal system and progressive restoration of metabolic balance.

Ingredients:

Atragalus, Bladderwrack, Cayenne, Echinacea, Gotu Kola, Grape seed, Licorice, Saw Palmetto, Siberian Ginseng and Withania.

A few months later they went for their 3rd round of IVF and it worked, first time. What’s brilliant and the reason for sharing this case is that his sperm morphology improved from 2% to 4% and the total sperm count went from 12 million to 45million.

Here are my 10 top tips for improving sperm quality from a lifestyle perspective that you can recommend alongside the homeopathic treatment:

1. As mentioned above chemicals are an issue for sperm, mainly because they are mimicking hormones inside the body which is disrupting the natural balance. So you need to recommend they stop using plastics as much as possible especially food trays and drink bottles, switch to natural shower / bath products, skin care products and cleaning products etc…Also switch the food to organic so as to avoid all the pesticides.

2. Improve diet ie: cut out all processed foods, sugar and white carbohydrates. Start eating at least 7-10 vegetables a day and 2 pieces of fruit. Drink at least 2 litres of water a day and chew food properly.

3. Get more sleep, at least 7-8 hours.

4. Unplug from the internet as much as possible, stop carrying the mobile phone in the trouser pocket near the genital area and recommend avoiding using the laptop directly on the lap. Also avoid using your mobile phone as an alarm, leave it downstairs to charge switched off over-night and use a regular alarm in the bedroom

5. Take supplements to help the body produce better sperm. A good general sperm support supplement I recommend is the Biocare ASC plus as its full of antioxidants.

6. Get checked for STD’s as these can lie undetected in the body and can negatively impact fertility.

7. Reduce stress and exercise more

8. Get sunshine on the skin, many people eat at their desk so I recommend leaving the work desk and eating lunch outside so they get the additional vitamin D from the sun through the skin.

9. Reduce alcohol as much as possible (ideally stop altogether for 3 months) as it is very harmful for sperm health, also quit smoking and drinking coffee which has been shown to reduce sperm by 50%

10. Pay attention to sources of heat on the genitals because the sperm are held outside the body they are more susceptible to the damage of heat ie: avoid baths, sauna’s and heating the genitals with excessive cycling etc

 

CONCLUSION

I feel that our main job when treating fertility cases is helping the couple to understand that their fertility is an extension of their health and so by using homeopathy to improve their health overall will ultimately bring their fertility back online.

This was a wonderful case because firstly, we had proof that the homeopathy improved the sperm quantity and quality due to testing before and afterwards. Secondly, It enabled this couple to conceive after a very long almost 5 year fertility journey.

I do wonder if they had continued to try naturally for another 6-12 months that it may have happened naturally without the IVF. But either way they are very happy and now have a beautiful baby girl.

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

Natures Materia Medica

Robin Murphy

 

Desktop guide to keynotes and cofnrimatory symptoms

Roger Morrison

 

Prisma

Frans Vermeulen

 

Homeobotanical training and supplies from Deborah Kerslake

www.homeoherbs.co.uk

 

 

 

 

About the Author:

Cassie Everett trained at the Centre for Homeopathic Education and is a Foresight Practitioner which is the charity that pioneered the concept of preconception care.

She has practiced Homeopathy for the past 14 years and has specialised in treating Infertility for the last 10 years.  She also lectures, provides practical courses and supervises students. Cassie brings a wealth of marketing and business experience from her previous work as Marketing and Promotions Manager for Clarins. Her client base extends worldwide.

Cassies website is: cassieeverett.com